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Date:

October 28, 1840

Extent:

4p

Summary:

This document is a letter dated October 28, 1840 to John Chester from his sister Mary Jane Chester at the Female Institute, Columbia Tennessee. Mary Jane describes her daily routine at the institute and how much she misses her family. Included with her letter is a course description for the institute along with a brief note to her brother Robert.

You cannot imagine how much pleasure your kind and affectionate letter gave me. I had been expecting [added: one] for so long a time, and had not received any that I can assure you I was very agreeably surprised I would have answered it sooner, but I had Aunt Frances's & cousin Richard's to answer as I received theirs first. I could not write home last week because I had to write a composition. Yo [You] know that it is very difficult for me to write a letter—anyhow, for I never wrote one by myself before I came here. Mama would always tell me every word to put down— but here I have no person to show me. Brother John please write me how Aunt Narcissa is—if she is entirely well I feel very anxious to hear. Tell her that she must be sure to answer the letter that I wrote to her. Dear Brother you have no idea how very strict they are here. They censure

but I have not received any yet. We set up until 9 o,clock every night to study. We then [added: go] up in the Dormitory, there is a little [added: bell] that is rung for us to undress and another for us to go to bed, and if we speak after the second bell rings we are censured in deportment.

They ring that bell for us to rise in the morning and again for us to go downstairs. O! it would take[added: fill] 5 or 6 sheets of paper if [added: I] were to tell you all of the rules. Give my love to Mama and Papa, and all of the children, to[ Aunt] Aunt P, and all of my relations and accept the love of your

affectionate sister

M. J. [Mary Jane] Chester

John Chester [added:

Dear Brother Robert

You have no idea how much pleasure a letter from you would give me.

I have not received a letter from any person this week and I begin to feel very melanc[added: o]lly [melancholy] letters now are my only pleasure, Tell Mama I have expecting a letter from her all this week and if I do not receive one soon I do not know what I shall. Tell Aunt that she promised to write to but has written yet. Cousin Jane promised and Cousin Martha Ann. Tell them that I wis [wish] that they would fulfill their promise.